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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Aspiring sportswriter Jordan McAllister never imagined she’d be a food critic. Yet here in Ranchero, Texas, that’s exactly what she is. And while she may not know a flank steak from a filet mignon, she certainly knows how to rustle up trouble...

As the food columnist for The Ranchero Globe, Jordan McAllister catches the eye of cattle baron Lucas Santana, who invites her to the Cattleman’s Ball, hoping a positive review for the ball might boost the county’s sagging beef sales.

To ensure Jordan enjoys herself, Santana sets her up with a prime cowboy companion for the event—Rusty Morales. Jordan’s delighted to go with him and two-step the night away. But instead, she winds up in the emergency room where her date is DOA.

When Rusty’s mother begs her for help, Jordan knows she needs to grab the bull by the horns and get to the bottom of this mystery before she corrals herself into trouble...

AN EXCERPT FROM BEEF STOLEN-OFF:

“How are we going to play this, Danny? Since I know these people, I think I should ask the questions,” Jordan said, groaning when the pickup hit a bump on the back road to Santana Circle Ranch and her head connected with the roof. “You think you could slow down a bit, bro? I’m pretty sure Rusty’s not going anywhere, anytime soon.” She added an extra touch of sarcasm as she rubbed her head.

“I thought you’d lose that smart mouth when you became a big time reporter.” He chuckled. “Oh wait! I forgot. You write personals.”

She slapped his shoulder playfully. Too much time had passed since her brother had teased her, and she’d missed it. “I have my own column, loser.”

“Yeah, writing recipes you’ve never heard of and have no clue how to cook.”

“Shut up! At least I didn’t get my job because I came cheap.” She paused, and then laughed out loud. “Okay, maybe that is how I got the job, but I still think you should let me do all the talking.”

Raised in a small town in Ohio, number eight of nine children, I graduated from nursing school and worked as a registered nurse for many years. When I could no longer ignore the characters talking in my head (No, I’m not on medication), I went back to school and got a professional arts degree. Then I started my first novel.

As most writers will agree, raising a family and working a full-time day job is a challenge when you’re trying to bring those characters to life. Three beautiful grandchildren later, I wouldn’t change a thing in my journey (Okay, I’d outlaw rejection letters.)

Anyone who has tried to write a book and sell it knows it doesn’t happen overnight. I started off thinking I was a romance writer, but those evil villains kept pushing their way into my stories. I discovered I loved killing off people, then tricking everyone into believing it was the wrong guy. Wait — isn’t that mystery writing? So, I gave in and let the mystery in me take over, although I still love romance and sneak it into every story.

But I didn’t get my happy ending just because I now wrote the kind of books I loved. Oh, contraire! Eight years after completing my first book, I finally sold. I am represented by the awesome Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary, LLC, who challenges me to take my writing to the next level.

Married to my high school sweetheart, I’ve lived in the Dallas area over twenty years and now call myself a Texan. (The Yankee in me still demands to be recognized every now and then.) We live seventy miles north of Dallas and have two grown children and a large extended family that remains close. Did I mention my three adorable grandbabies?

Since I grew up with love and laughter, that’s always been the type of book I read. If it can make me laugh or cry plus keep me guessing, I consider it a classic. I love mysteries, always have, always will.

SOME OTHER BOOKS BY LIZ LIPPERMAN:

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